The airport’s operator, state-owned Taoyuan International Airport Corporation (TIAC), said the new passenger record suggests Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy is working.

The rise in passenger traffic is largely attributed to increasing popularity of budget airlines, as well as relaxed visa requirements for citizens of some Southeast Asian nations.

TIAC said that budget airline traffic increased by 12.05 percent last year, and passengers from New Southbound Policy targeted countries increased by 9.84 percent. The corporation added that Chinese passengers also increased by 1.91 percent in 2018.

TAIC pointed to the airport’s expansion, with the ongoing development of two new terminals, as well as measures to automate check-in and customs procedures as efforts to meet the increased traffic.

According to statistics by Airports Council International, Taoyuan airport was ranked as the 35th busiest in the world in 2017.